The Portland daily press., 1887-07-19
SToNEWALl's PLAN.
How jackson Intended to Mark His
Men at Fredericksburg.

On the night of the battle of Fredercks-
burg, when Burnside was trying to get his
army back to the Stafford side of the river
over the one pontoon bridge that Was left,
Lee called council of war. Jackson had
been holding position about three miles
down the river from Mayre's heights. where
the fiercest fighting had taken place, but had
moved his command up closer late in the af-
ternoon. The night was fearfully dark, and
a drilling rain had set in. Jackson came
into the council, saluted the officers present,
and took seat off in a corner. General Lee
stated the purpose for which the council had
been called, and asked one of the senior off,
GERS for his opinion; and then another, and
another, until all had spoken save Stonewall.
Lee then turned and asked his opinion, but
received no response. All turned to hear
what he would say, and there sat jackson
bless me-" said Lee, 1.-The old fellow is
asleep" and going to him he shook his arm
and called his name, which awakened him.
General jackson, will you give us your
opinion as to what should be done2"
Gentlemen" he said, Il am sorry that
have not heard all that has been said, but my
plan is, if the council will agree to it, to 90
back to my corps and march 1t into Freder-
icksburg at once. The enemy has met with
severe reverse, and it is in all probability
demoralized. They have only one bridge
over which to escape. One corps is sufficient
to do this work. to destroy what remains of
that army on this side of the river, and that
being done the campaign win be over"
But. general" said Lee, consider the
fact that those men have the one bridge over
which to escape; they will fight desperate
ly."
"What if they do? My corps is accus
toned to desperate fighting. But the very
fact that they have only. one avenue of es-
cape in their demoralized condition, will
cause them to make every effort to use the
bridge. They. will not fight so desperately
as you think"
''But consider the darkness Of the night.
Your men will not be able to distinguish
their own comrades
Il have thought of all that | will make
my men pull their shirt tails out and march
in !; they will know one another them
General Lee walked back and forth for
some some time i'm deeply engaged in thought FL
agree to your proposition; the slaughter
would be horrible, and my conscience can
| not approve of it,"
my conscience approves of it thoroughly, .
to-day has been horrible, and would have
| been worse. had the enemy gained those
| heights The enemy is in a trap, and we
should take advantage of it. If the tables
were turned they would march on u.s.
And at this very time said an Union Of
| ficer, 1--WE were getting out of that place as
| fast as men could be got over one bridge.
We were looking every minute for the Con-
federate troops to rush in upon us, and if
they had done SO we would have been utter
behind him, was at a picnic compared to our
situation that night" And when told him
of Jackson's plan for enabling his troops to
know their comrades he said "Fabius Max
linus is the only other man who ever lived,
who would have thought of such a thing. and
| his soldiers didn't have the materials.W